Samson Dauda, Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan
Some things changed, some stayed the same. The 59th Mr. Olympia was different from the 58th. Different venue, different time zone, better production. There were 17 Mr. Olympia competitors, which seems like the right number after last year’s record big lineup of 28 contributed to the show dragging on too long. For pay-per-view, the contest also benefited from being in the Eastern time zone (Orlando, Florida) unlike last year’s, which was in the Western (Las Vegas). Over three-quarters of Americans live in the Eastern and Central time zones, and last year’s Friday prejudging ended at 2:00 and 1:00 AM there. This year: 11:00 and 10:00 PM.
But the 59th Mr. Olympia was also remarkably similar to the 58th with the same bodies at or near the top. Last year’s top eight became this year’s top six because two-time Mr. Olympia Big Ramy (5th last year) and Nick Walker (3rd last year) weren’t competing. And, more importantly, it was the same, similarly shaped duo dueling for the title. But, in the end, the most important thing of all changed. We have a new Mr. Olympia.
PREJUDGING: 1ST CALLOUT
It’s on! The crucial first callout of the 2023 Mr. Olympia prejudging consisted of defending champ Hadi Choopan, last year’s runner-up Derek Lunsford, 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry, this year’s Arnold Classic champ Samson Dauda, Hunter Labrada, and Andrew Jacked. Curry’s presence was notable because he nearly had to drop when he was hospitalized the day before. After learning he has ulcers, he was able to get a doctor’s clearance to enter the show. Also notable was the absence of last year’s bronze medal finisher, Nick Walker, who dropped out three days before the contest due to a hamstring tear. A healthy Walker had the potential to place in the top three again this time.
As for who was there, it quickly settled into a three-way contest between Choopan, Lunsford, and Dauda. Notably, for the first time, only the top three of the Mr. Olympia qualify for next year’s contest. It was previously the top five.
PREJUDGING: 2ND CALLOUT
The second callout consisted of Tonio Burton, Charles Griffen, Regan Grimes, Hassan Mostafa, and Michal Krizo. Krizo was peeled, and though his back remains a weakness, he was moved to the center of this five-man lineup. He won front and side shots, and even held his own in the rear double biceps because of his superior conditioning. The rear lat spread was the only shot he clearly lost.
PREJUDGING: 3RD CALLOUT
This was the “everyone else” callout: Justin Shier, Ross Flanigan, Phil Clahar, Theo Leguerrier, Andrea Presti, Roman Fitz. All six were non-Americans and four (all but Leguerrier and Presti) were Olympia rookies.
PREJUDGING: 4TH CALLOUT
Labrada, Jacked, Curry, Krizo. Krizo, who was 12th in last year’s Mr. Olympia (his first), moving into the top seven was the biggest surprise in a contest that felt like a repeat of last year (minus Walker and Ramy).
PREJUDGING: 5TH CALLOUT
The fifth and final callout was a three-man affair: Samson Dauda, Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford. On the mic, head judge Steve Weinberger had to repeatedly admonish the trio to return to behind the line, as each tried to gain an advantage by standing farther forward on the stage than the white tape.
The Nigerian-Englishman Samson, at 300 pounds, continues to fill out his 5’11” frame. His wheels are especially voluminous for a tall bodybuilder. And he had the smallest waist of the trio. But he was bit blurry here, and his back trailed the backs of the other two.
This was, like last year, a duel between Choopan and Lunsford, the two previous 212-division bodybuilders (Lunsford won the 212 Olympia in 2021) with similar structures, the former an Iranian, the latter an American. Lunsford was better in the two rear shots, displaying deeper divots in his back and finer lines in his glutes and hamstrings. I also gave him the front double biceps. But Choopan was superior in the front lat spread and—his best pose—the most muscular. Others poses were close calls. Choopan has a wider frame and a thicker chest, and he displayed greater front-side detailing in his zippered quads and splintered pecs. If the cliché that Olympias are won from the back was true, it was Lunsford’s show, and he would become the first-ever two-division champ: 212 and open. Otherwise, Choopan might still be the champ at the end of Saturday night. What would the judges say?
2023 MR. OLYMPIA FINALS
The judging round on Saturday was like a repeat of prejudging with the same competitors in the same callouts. Once again, Krizo made the next-to-last callout with Labrada, Jacked, and Curry. And once again the top three—Dauda, Choopan, and Lunsford—were in the final callout with each spending time in the middle—first Dauda, then Choopan, then Lunsford—as the judges again ran them through all eight poses three times. All looked to have sharpened up from the day before, but Dauda grew increasingly oily as he sweat through the 24 poses.
As the show came to a close, after a lethargic posedown, 10 men stood on stage, but only five were given awards. Andrew Jacked jumped three places from eighth last year. Brandon Curry, at 41, proved he’s not going anywhere just yet, duplicating last year’s Mr. Olympia fourth-place finish. Samson Dauda moved up three places from last year into the bronze medal position and its six-figure payday.
And then there were two, the same two as last year: Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford. And emcee Bob Cicherillo, in his inimitable style, dragged it out, heightening the tension about the 400 grand and the Sandow trophy and the Mr. Olympia title. Who would receive those prizes? Two-time champ or new champ? Finally, Cicherillo bellowed: “AND NEW…” And 30-year-old Derek Lunsford threw his hands up in ecstasy as the crowd erupted. Derek Lunsford is the 18th Mr. Olympia.
2023 MR. OLYMPIA RESULTS
November 3-4, 2023 / Orlando, Florida
1. Derek Lunsford ($400,000)
2. Hadi Choopan ($150,000)
3. Samson Dauda ($100,000)
4. Brandon Curry ($40,000)
5. Chinedu “Andrew Jacked” Obiekea ($35,000)
6. Hunter Labrada ($25,000)
7. Michal “Krizo” Krizanek ($16,000)
8. Tonio Burton ($14,000)
9. Regan Grimes ($12,000)
10. Charles Griffen ($10,000)
11. Hassan Mostafa ($2000)
12. Andrea Presti ($2000)
13. Theo Leguerrier ($2000)
14. Roman Fritz ($2000)
15. Justin Shier ($2000)
16. Phil Clahar ($2000)
DNF* Ross Flanigan ($2000)
* Did Not Finish
2023 MR. OLYMPIA SCORECARD
Like last year, Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan both received first and second place votes in a split decision. Last year, Choopan won by four points. This year, Lunsford won by five. A unanimous decision would be a 10-point difference.
